Collins KW1

[W3RSW]

NP2B has a nice two page article in QST’s “Classic Radio” section of the May 2018 edition.
“Collins KW1 The King of Transmitters”

Includes W0YVA’s Isquare.com registry.  Of 152 built most are still intact.

http://www.isquare.com/personal_pages/kw1-list.htm

[Todd, KA1KAQ]

Should be an interesting read, will have to get ahold of a copy. Every time someone does a story, some new adventure seems to surface. Occasionally it's even true. Ironically, I got to see good ole #89 last weekend for the first time since we moved in 2016. 'JN helped me move another piece of equipment into the basement that had been stored in the garage with the rest of the big iron. Snapped a quick photo before rolling something else into its place.

Have had a lot of fun from the old box over the last 30 years, hope to enjoy a whole lot more. Quite a bit of learning, too. Numerous folks on 'fone have operated/diagnosed/repaired it over the years as well. A few even got to hear the modulation transformer zorch late one night. 

[KD6VXI]

What, may I ask, is that thing of government procurement beauty to the left?

Me LOVES full racks!

--Shane
KD6VXI

[Todd, KA1KAQ]

That would be the Collins KWT-6 in military drag, known as the AN/URC-32. HF transceiver which is basically KWS-1 on steroids with an early PLL master oscillator. Up top beneath the interconnect box is the antenna tuning network which shows up for sale online often. Fair Radio was also selling them for a number of years along with the 4CX250 x2 PA unit directly beneath.

The Navy used a lot of these on ships and even in subs. This one supposedly came from a sub before being surplussed to another gov't agency. Different versions were used by the Air Force on what was known as the 'Big Talk' system/program.

A nice rig and easy to work on until you get down to the internal modules which use those pencil tubes, all soldered in. Some of the Navy techs disliked them for this reason. Like the R-390 family, modules themselves are quite simple to swap out, and most of the main units are hinged to swing out for servicing.